Demonstrate an understanding of the technical options commonly adopted for constructing, enclosing and servicing larger commercial and industrial buildings.

This assignment is designed to test the following learning outcomes:

1. Demonstrate an understanding of the technical options commonly adopted for constructing, enclosing and servicing larger commercial and industrial buildings.
2. Begin to analyse the options and taking a performance-based approach, propose appropriate technical solutions for constructing, enclosing, and servicing larger commercial and industrial buildings.
3. Begin to recognise the environmental impact of constructing and operating commercial and industrial buildings and measures to mitigate their embodied and operational carbon emissions.
4. Begin to understand the key legislation and guidance seeking to minimise the impact of the construction industry on the environment.

ASSIGNMENT TASK AND SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS

Project Scenario

Your client, a developer with extensive housing sector experience, is expanding into the commercial sector. They plan to develop an 8-storey lettable office building on a city center site. The building’s dimensions and layout are detailed in Figure 1. The building should have a clear story height of 4 meters per floor.

The client has commissioned your consultancy group to provide expert advice on building services and energy efficiency for the project. Your findings and recommendations should be compiled into a professionally written report, not exceeding 3000 words.

Your requirements:

Your consultancy report should include technical descriptions and schematic diagrams for the following building services:

• Hot and Cold-Water Installation
• Above-Ground Drainage (Grey and Black Water)
• Thermal Comfort Systems (Heating, Cooling, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning)
• Electrical Installation

Indicate the types available and recommend one system for your client with clear justification of choice. For your chosen system provide technical descriptions of how the system works including cable sizing, load calculations and building regulations the systems adhere to.

Drawings

• Include schematic diagrams showing vertical and floor-level distribution of the services.
• Include a floor plan showing the distribution of the services around the building.
• Note: where the services are the same at each floor level one floor plan will be sufficient.

Further requirements:

Building Envelope:

• Describe the external wall construction of your building, including materials for walls, doors, and windows.
• Perform detailed U-value calculations for walls, doors and windows and explain compliance with Building Regulations Approved Document L2A.

Solar Shading:

• Provide details of proposed solar shading appropriate for each elevation. Details here do not necessarily need to be drawn but do need to come from a credible source. This could be a textbook or literature produced by a manufacturer that will indicate the solar shading of the element.

Sustainable Design Features:

• You are also required to incorporate sustainable design features (i.e., appreciate environmental efficiency, fitness for purpose, and the adaptability of buildings to changing user needs including building services). This should include evidence of the level of abatement to be achieved by the proposed options.

 Notes

• This coursework requires the production of a written client report submitted as a single coherent document. The report should demonstrate professionalism and must include a cover letter to the client and an executive summary. 
• Word Limit: 3000-word count, excluding figures, tables, preliminaries and appendices.
• You are required to use pictures (figures) and drawings to illustrate your work.
• For reasons of clarity use arial 11pt font with 1½ line spacing. Any appended material must be relevant and cross-referenced with the main body text.
• You are expected to undertake appropriate further reading and research beyond what is provided in the lectures in relation to the matters addressed in this coursework brief. A list of References must be presented at the end of the report listing all sources cited in the main report. Do not include a bibliography.

Figure 1: Site plan of the proposed development

Assignment Criteria